Dental instrument



Nov. 30, 1954 H. F. HIPP DENTAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 18, 1953 Fig. 6

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United States PatentO This invention relates to a dental instrument and more particularly to an instrument for accurately determining the centric and vertical bite registration of a patient in the building of artificial dentures.

An object of this invention is to provide a dental instrument for obtaining tlie centric relationship of the upper and lower jaws.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dental instrument for locating the proper vertical registration of the upper and. lower jaws.

A further objectof this invention is to-provide a dental instrument which will eliminate the abnormal bite conditions of a patient caused by loss of teeth, which conditions are usually found when making an impression preliminary to making artificial dentures.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a dental instrument which aids the technician in obtaining a proper impression with a minimum amount of trial and adjustment.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a dental instrument for making an impression of the upper and lower jaws which is small and compact and easily inserted in the mouth of a patient.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dental instrument for taking impressions of a patients mouth, which is simple and efficient in construction and durable and lasting in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dental instrument forming the subject of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the dental instrument forming the subject of this invention showing a handle attached thereto;

Figure 3 is a top view of the dental instrument forming the subject of this invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a top view of the handle used in connection with the dental instrument; and

Figure 7 is a top View of a plate used with the dental instrument for ascertaining the center line of the denture.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the dental instrument forming the subject of this invention includes, as shown in Figure 1, a U-shaped plate 10 having an arcuate bight portion and outwardly diverging leg portions secured to said bight portion.

The plate 10 is provided with downwardly and outwardly extending flanges 12 and 14 which are secured to the edges thereof and extend from the free end of one leg portion to the free end of the other leg portion. The leg portions of the plate 10 curve upwardly toward the free ends thereof and the flanges 12 and 14 are rounded at the ends thereof as indicated at 16 and 18.

The flanges 12 and 14 and plate 10 form a dish-shaped channel for receiving plastic material. When the plate is provided with the plastic material and inserted in the mouth of a patient an impression can be made of the lower jaw of the patient.

An internally threaded bushing 20 is secured to the arcuate bight portion of the plate 10. ,The bushing zll is secured to. the upper surface of the plate 10 and the internally threaded aperture thereof extends perpendicular to the plate 10. A screw 22 having a flathead portion 24 is mounted inythe threaded aperture. The screw 22 can be rotated to move the head portion 24 toward and away from the plate 10. A lock nut 26 is mounted on the screw 22 for engaging th upper surface of the bushing 20 to retainxthe screw 22 in adjusted position. The lower end of the bushing 20 is provided with an annular groove 28. A fiat handle. 30 is provided with a bifurcated erid 32 which resiliently engages the bushing 20 in the grooves 28. This provides an easy method of attaching or detaching the handle to or from the plate 10.

Each of the leg portions of the plate 10 is provided with a longitudinal channel member 34 on the upper surface thereof adjacent the free ends thereof. The members 34 are each provided with a reversely bent flange 36 at each end thereof. The members 34 and flanges 36 serve as a means of retaining a plastic material on the upper surface of the leg portions of the plate 10.

A flat V-shaped plate 38 is provided with a cut-out portion 40 in one edgethereof; The upper surface of the plate 38 is provided with an indicia 42 which extends from the center portion of the cut-out 40. The purpose of the plate 38 will be later described.

The bushing 20 is provided with an annular groove 44 adjacent the upper end thereof, which groove will allow the plate to be placed in position with the cutout 40 in the plate 38 surrounding the bushing 20 and with the edges of the plate extending from. the cut-out overlying the arcuate bight portion of plate 10.

In practical use, the dentist or technician using the dental instrument softens bees wax or other plastic material and places it on the under surface of the plate 10 within the channel formed by the flanges 16 and 18. Then the plate 10 is inserted into the patients mouth with the plastic material resting on the lower ridge area. An impression will then be made of the lower ridge area. With this impression in place, the screw 22 is then rotated to elevate the flat head portion 24 to the desired vertical height. The height to which the head portion 24 is to be adjusted is determined by positioning the patients jaws in the normal closed position prior to the removal of the patients teeth. Then the lock nut 26 is adjusted to maintain the screw 22 and head portion 24 in the adjusted position.

Then the entire instrument is removed from the mouth of the patient and softened bees wax or other plastic material is placed on the upper surface of the plate 10 over the members 34. The flanges. 36 will aid in retaining this wax in position. A suflicient amount of wax or plastic material should be placed over the retainer so that a complete impression of the upper right and left posterior ridges can be obtained. While the wax or plastic material is still soft, the plate 10 is again inserted in the patients mouth exactly in the same position as it was previously. Then the patients mouth is closed in centric position until the papilla in the center of the upper anterior ridge comes in contact with the head portion 24, the vertical height of which was established previously.

Then the fiat metal plate 38 is inserted between the upper and lower lips of the patient with the cut-out portion 40 disposed around the bushing 20 so that the edges of the plate 38 are embedded in the wax or plastic material which is positioned on the upper surface of the plate 10. In placing the plate 38, the indicia should be kept in alignment with the center of the patients face. After the plate 38 has been placed in position the entire instrument is removed from the patients mouth and the centric and vertical bite registration is completed.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A dental instrument comprising a U-shaped plate adapted to be supported in a patients month by the lower jaw, said plate having downwardly extending flanges secured to the sides thereof forming a downwardly facing channel adapted to retain a plastic material therein, an internally threaded bushing secured to the upper surface of said plate adjacent the mid-point thereof, and a screw having a flat head at one end mounted in said bushing, said bushing being provided with an annular groove at the lower end thereof, a flat handle having a bifurcated end, said bifurcated end engaging said groove for attaching the handle to said plate.

2. A dental instrument comprising a U-shaped plate adapted to be supported in a patients mouth by the lower jaw, said plate having downwardly extending flanges secured to the sides thereof forming a downwardly facing channel adapted to retain a plastic material therein, an internally threadedbushing seated and secured on the upper surface, of said plate adjacent the mid-point thereof, and a screw rising from said bushing with a lock nut thereon and having a flat enlarged head above said bushing, said plate being provided with channel re taining means on and rising from the upper surface thereof adjacent the ends adapted to retain plastic material on the upper surface of said plate.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said retaining means comprises a longitudinal member having upwardly extending reversely bent flanges at each end therefore adapted to be embedded in a body of plastic material.

4. A dental instrument comprising a U-shaped plate adapted to be supported in a patients mouth by the lower jaw, said plate having downwardly extending flanges secured to the sides thereof forming a downwardly facing channel adapted to retain a plastic material therein, an internally threaded bushing secured to the upper surface of said plate adjacent the mid-point thereof, and a screw having a fiat head at one end mounted in said bushing, said plate being provided with retaining means on the upper surface thereof adjacent the ends adapted to retain plastic material on the upper surface of said plate, and a flat V-shaped member having a cut-out portion in one edge thereof, said cut-out portion receiving said bushing to allow the sides of said member adjacent the cut-out portion to be embedded in a body of plastic material secured on the upper surface of said plate, and indicia on said V-shaped member extending from said cutout portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,089,715 Simmons Aug. 10, 1937 2,577,513 Cunningham Dec. 4, 1951 

